Hawaii Restaurants Adjust to Shark Fin Ban

Audrey McAvoySource: The Honolulu Star AdvertiserJuly 2, 2011

“Chinese restaurants in Hawaii are adjusting to the nation’s first total ban on shark fins—a pricey Chinese delicacy that activists are trying to eliminate from people’s diets to save the world’s sharks.

Thursday was the last day the restaurants could legally serve shark fin under a state law enacted last year prohibiting the possession, sale or distribution of shark fins.

The law took effect last July 1, but gave restaurants a year to use up any remaining inventory. Now, restaurants serving fin will be fined $5,000-to-$15,000 the first time they are caught. A third offense would result in up to a year in prison and a fine of $35,000-to-$50,000.”